The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-12-01
GARDEN OF EDEN LOCATED.
Bishop Keener Int:natas that 1t Was in
South Carolina.

la the latest issne Of the Soathern
christina Ad00cate published in Col
umbia, S. c., the Rt.-Rsr. j. G. Keen
er, D. D., of New Orleans, one of the
Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South, discusses the question
of the site of the Garden of Eden, and
advances some novel and ingenious
theories in favor of southern latitudes,
The Bishop says:
Now, suppose we bring Eden down
South, say as far as Charleston, en-
bracing the coast between the Santee
and the Savannah, with its several
rivers and inlets. between the 30th
and 40th parallels of latitude. We
have for it this much to say:
l. In and near the Cooper and the
Ashley Rivers there is d vast collec-
ton Of the remains of the largest
mammals. specially, of their molars
and vertebrs. These are remarka-
BILE for their variety; very huge, very
many, and evidently of many distinct
species. We put this against all soli-
tary individuals as yet discovered in
OF near the Arctic regions.
2. Besides those remains. which,
from the amount of silica in them,
have resisted the action of time and
acids, there are phosphate masses in
which these molars are imbedded.
Probably the large bones returned to
their original source. Then there are
scattered about small and large bowl
ders of the phosphate of lime, indica-
ing at a greater depth mine of min
eral.
5. This shows that these animals
were not foated into this place by the
action of the currents, but were here
from the first, and found in the al
luvial plains around, and meadows
filled with dubious plants. aud an ex-
uberant fora, their original habitat.
Only region supplying plants fed by
a heavy phosphate pabulum could sup
port creatures of such enormous bone.
4. As these several species multiplied
from a single pair. masses of their re-
mains would most probably indicate
the place of their origin. Whether
Behemoth was made in Eden, we know
that lie was reviewed there, and there
named by Adam. And the Almighty
says, speaking of Job: Behold now
Behemoth, which l made with thee;
he eateth grass like an on"
These views, ii correct, are still fur
ther strengthened by the building of
the ark. As tie race had not been
separated by dispersion Or language.
it is to be supposed that Noah lived
not far from the original home of man.
The construction of vessel at that
time required the same conditions of
material and shape now essential
in naval architecture. Indeed, the
dimensions of the ark are now those
of n tirst-class sea steamer for freight,
aud are standard proportions in the
English Admiralty office. 1t was 4
long, narrow vessel. evidently de-
signed for speed and a long voyage.
Had it only to start from given point
and hoat about for $50 days and then
ground at no great distance from the
point of departure, it would have
been shaped heavy and square.
The timbers for such a vessel of
length of over 800 feet required tim
bers of continuous length and great
strength. The cypress was entirely
too brittle for the purpose. Its keel
and ribs would require such wood as
the live oak, grown near the sea, used
to storms, and of a grain running
every way, bearing equally we'll a
strain from every direction. Large
quantities of pitch and tar wonld be
required for pitching it heavily within
and without. The word ',goher,'
means pitch" ''pine," and it is prob
, able that the gopher wood was the
wood of the long-leaf pine. ] need
not say that either of the Carolinas
| coald have furnished the materials in
! abundance.
That the ark was built somewhere
| inland for convenience of timber is
probable. Yet not very far, as the
principal weight OF its cargo was to be
graminivorous stock, and large quanti.
titles of dried herbage, both of which
were to come from meadow lands.
The breaking up of the deep, ETC., at
the time of the deluge, would not i'm
ply nssessarily any very great change
IN The soRfoy0atien Of the continents,
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